Weston Under 15s Edge Tight Cup Match

Match report by Kenny Braidwood

Weston came away with a well deserved away win after a tight match against a strong and organised Cleve team. Both teams started the game well with periods of solid possession. Cleve were the first to score after they secured the ball from a scrum on the Weston 5 metre line. They moved the ball out to the left wing and went over in the corner. The conversion was scored.

From the restart Weston put pressure on the Cleve defence and made steady progress towards the Cleve try line. A solid Weston scrum resulted in the ball making its way out to Kyron Pearce who powerfully ran through a couple of cover tackles to score. Lewis Paterson scored the conversion.

Throughout the match the Cleve backs made some very good runs which Weston struggled to defend. Through one of these moves Cleve moved the ball up the middle of the pitch and then out to the left wing to score in the corner. The conversion from a tight angle was well made.

The Weston forwards battled well at the breakdown despite Cleve trying to disrupt a number of rucks with illegal use of the hands. Cleve gave away a number of penalties at the breakdown throughout the game which Weston capitalised on. Following a Cleve infringement Brooklyn Chamberlain picked up the ball and charged over the line from 8 metres. Lewis Paterson missed the conversion.

Half time Cleve RFC 14 – 12 Weson-super-Mare

Weston started the half by keeping play in midfield and managed to hold out Cleve for the first five minutes of the second half. Until Cleve scored next. Once again they secured the ball from a 5 meter scrum and crossed the line. The conversion was scored.

eston slowly built pressure through a number of good carries by Andrew Turner, David Clamp, Euan Braidwood, Billy Howells and Brooklyn Chamberlain. Toby Maleham cut out to the left wing following a couple of pick up and goes and darted across the try line. Lewis Paterson secured the extras with a well taken conversion from tight on the touchline.

With the game into the last 12 minutes and evenly balanced at 21 – 19 to Cleve, Weston lost Kyron Pearce through an injury to his hand. Toby Maleham moved out to centre and Reef Morton came off the bench as number 8 and made an immediate impression by making sure the Weston scrum continued to dominate.

Weston's winning try was very well taken by Harry Strutt who finished off a good move by the backs which saw the ball pass through the hands to Lewis Patterson on the right wing who passed on to Strutt outside the Cleve 22. Strutt then stepped inside away from the danger of the touchline and evaded a couple of tackles which set him free to race down the wing and cut inside under the posts to score. The conversion was made.

There was still time for Cleve to take the restart which was fielded by Harry Strutt who promptly kick the ball out of play to end the game.

Man of the match went to Andrew Turner who carried the ball well all morning and relieved pressure on the Weston line a number of times as well as threatening the Cleve line through his intelligent runs and protection of the ball.